The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-05
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Importance of the Coming Election-Indica-
tionS that the New Policy Will Be Ratified.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SAN Francisco, CAL, Sept. 4.-The news
from Honolulu which brought by the
steamer Alameda which arrived yesterday.
when viewed closely, is important. It indicates
that King Kalakaua is losing popularity instead
of gaining it. He begins to realize more clearly
the Importance of the late political demonstra-
tons, and to that the result OF the election
which will take place the 18th inst. is not
likely to strengthen his power. Not only does
he this. but he has expressed fears to his i'm
mediate ad that the election will leave him
nothing beyond the fact that he may for time
still be addressed as "his Majesty" but the
glory of power will have van
ished, and uneasy will be his head
while it still wears the These
forebodings were very clearly set forth in an
interview at Honolulu with Mr.. Clarence Wilder
Ashford Attorney general of the Hawaiian gov
ernment, by Leopold Jordan, London journal
ist, and until lately of the editors of the
Sydney Daily Telegraph. Mr.. Jordan, on his
way up from Australia, stopped at Honolulu to
examine the political situation the islands
In his interview with Attorney general Ashford
the latter said:
For years there has been great dissatisfac-
ton on the part of the white people, and these.
who are the chief property owners: have had
good cause complain"
"On what grounds were the complaints made2"
'Well the dissatisfaction was directed chiefly
against the extravaganza and arrogance OF the
government. and its utter refusal to be bound
By laws of its own making"
"I take it. then, that protests were of little
TO avail
"Protests were absolutely useless. The Anglo
Saxon expedient of obtaining reforms by consti-
tional measures failed for the reason that the
constitution practically imposed no restrictions
upon the King
'Then it was purely a personal government"
Precisely, and the King was the person who
conducted it. He was thoroughly autocratic,
and if the Ministers did not fall in exactly with
his opinions and ideas of government. their
designations were demanded"
''Was the appointment of Ministers vested in
the Kng2"
Every officer, from the Prime Minister to the
most obscure politician. was personally ap-
pointed by his Majesty"
The King practically dictated the whole of the
legislation and it, by any chance. a bill passed
which was not acceptable to him. he promptly
and decisively used his unrestricted veto power.
He directed the electoral campaigns and per-
sonay visited majority of the constituencies
while on his electioneering tours The people,
seeing their attempts at reform were treated
with contempt. sought other methods. having
concluded that reform must De obtained outside
OF tho constitution. and an order was formed in
January last, called the Hawaiian League"
its expressed object being constitutional rep
resentative government in fact well as in
form. IN the Hawaiian Islands. by all necessary
means" It grew rapidly after the first three
months, and many of the most prominent
Americans, Europeans and native whites gath
cred TO its standard until it became the strong
est power on the islands. During May and June
the increase in mem bership was enormous. and
about the lst of July arms and m unition be-
gan to arrive. Then, for the first time. the
league threw off it's secrecy and boldly declared
its intentions, dem andng of the King new
constitution, and. said Mr.. Jordan, there is
every indication that the new policy and consti-
tuition will be ratified by public vote in Septem-
ber If. on the other hand, the King succeeds in
controlling the election, serious trouble may be
expected.
Among the arrivals by the steamer were three
members of the Kings personal staff. one of
them, General Hayley. who has for many years
been in command of the military forces Of the
island. The object of his visit in kept pro-
Found secret ~